The U.S National Christmas Tree goes dark, Trump fumes in Washington chaos

Washington's National Christmas Tree went dark on Monday, December 24 on third day of a US government shutdown that left President Donald Trump fuming at opponents and stock markets teetering.

tree, whose spectacular lights were switched on at a ceremony attended by Trump earlier this month, became a forlorn symbol of dysfunction gripping Washington two years into his presidency.

National Park Service tweeted that it would remain unlit and closed to public "until furr tice," with checks being me for dam following an attempt by an intruder on Friday to climb tree.

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parks service is one of many state institutions suffering from a suspension of funding triggered by Trump's refusal to sign a bro spending pack unless Congress agrees to allocate USD 5 billion for his controversial barrier along US-Mexican border.

budget standoff could drag on into January, when new Congress is seated, although negotiations were planned for Thursday, offering a glimmer of hope.

Trump me a Mexico border wall one of his main campaign promises and idea is popular with many Republicans backing president's mess that illegal immigration is out of control.

Democrats and some Republicans in Congress oppose plans as impractical, unnecessary and fueling xephobia against Central Americans.

shutdown only ds to uncertainties spooking global stock markets after a tumultuous week in which respected Defense Secretary Jim Mattis resigned and president stepped up attacks on supposedly independent chairman of Federal Reserve.

He renewed invective on Monday, comparing Fed to a blundering golfer "who can't score because he has touch - he can't putt!" 

Trump's Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin h spent much of weekend in dam control mode following reports that Trump h privately asked cabinet members wher he has authority to fire Fed Chairman Jerome Powell.

Last week, central bank hiked rates, infuriating Trump who has igred tritional respect for Fed's independence, calling it "crazy", "out of control" and a greater ecomic threat than China.

Mnuchin on Saturday, December 22 quoted Trump as denying any plan to remove Powell. Dow Jones index dropped 400 points or 1.8 percent in early tring Monday, following deep losses in Europe.

Domestic issues are just part of far from merry Christmas picture, with Trump also juggling a tre war with China and fallout from his abrupt decision to pull US troops from Afghanistan and Syria.

Forced to delay his annual winter vacation in Florida, Trump cuts an increasingly lonely figure in White House, where he presides over a government lacking a permanent defense secretary, attorney general or White House chief of staff.

In six rambling morning tweets, Trump lashed out at congressional opponents, rejected widespre criticism that his Syria and Afghan decisions h left allies in lurch, and denied responsibility for market wobbles.

"AMERICA IS RESPECTED AGAIN!" he declared defiantly.

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About three-quarters of government, including military, is fully funded through September 2019 but partial shutdown forced several or major ncies to cease operations from Saturday.

shutdown meant that more than 400,000 federal employees reported to ir jobs on Monday without getting paid, while nearly 400,000 ors "will be locked out of work with pay," American Federation of Government Employees union said.

" private business or company would be permitted to impose on or disrupt lives of ir employees in such a manner," Federation said in letters to Senate and House of Representatives.

A deal to end funding shortfall appears a distant prospect as Congress journed on weekend for Christmas.

"It's very possible that this shutdown will go beyond 28th and into new Congress" which takes its seat in early January, White House budget director and incoming acting chief of staff Mick Mulvaney said.

But while trying to pin blame on Democrats, Mulvaney, speaking on "Fox News Sunday," ackwledged that Trump's hardline stand played a role.

"This is what Washington looks like when you have a president who refuses to sort of go along to get along," Mulvaney said.